Attaching and printing machine and method



NOV. 15, 1938. v Q FLOOD 2,136,941

ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD .Filerd Aug. 20, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 15, 1938. C, A, FLOOD 2,136,941

ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 20, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 15, 1938. c. A..FLOOD 2,136,941

ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 20; 19:55 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 6357 266 fl'aocz Nov. 15, 1938. c. A. FLOOD ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 20, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 20, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet s Q oar $7 @5294 Nov. 15, 1938.

C. A. FLOOD ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 20, 1935 l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 15, 1938. -A FLOQD 2,136,941

ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Au 20, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 /27 W T 275 7/5 0 0W r A56 L I -im dfi Nov. 15, 1938. c. A. FLOOD 2,136,941

ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 20, 1935 12 Sheets-SheetQ a i Z Nov. 15, 1938. c. A. FLOOD 2,136,941

ATTACI'IING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed 'Aug. 20, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 Nov. 15, 1938. c. A. FLOOD ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 20, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet ll arZ 4- W Nov. 15, 1938. c. A. FLOOD 2,136,941

ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 20, 1935 12 Sheets-$heet l2 Patented Nov. 15, 1938 l V i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHING AND PRINTING MACHINE AND -MIETHOD Carl A. Flood, Framingham, Mass., assignor to. Dennison Manufacturing Company, Framingham, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 20, 1935, Serial No. 36,989

23, Claims. (Cl. 98-88) 'This invention relates to a combined printing To permit these desirable results, the ticket and attaching machine, to a method of printing feeding means preferably is arranged to move which is advantageously employed by this mathe ticket into juxtaposition to the first portion chine, and to features of printing and attaching of the printing mechanism, whereupon a printmechanisms which are particularly useful in a ing operation is effected, and then to move the 5 machine of this type. My prior copending appliticket into juxtaposition to the second portion of cations Serial Nos. 565,466 and 650,285, filed rethe mechanism when the second printing operaspectively September 28, 1931 and January 5, tion is effected. If the two lines of printing are 1933, disclose machines of the general character, to be duplicated, the feeding mechanism then to which the present invention isdirected, these moves the ticket back into juxtaposition to the 10 machines being arranged to print successive first printing portion, where a third printing tickets with price markings and identifying inoperation occurs and the first line is repeated. dicia or the like, and to feed the printed tickets The ticket is then moved by the feeding mechato an attaching station where each ticket may be nism into another location wherein it is juxta attached to an article of wearing apparel or the posed to the second printing portion and is there like. Thus machines of this type are particularly again printed so that the second line of indicia suited for use in department stores, mail order is duplicated. houses and similar establishments. In order to facilitate these operations, the In accordance with the present invention, a feeding mechanism is arranged to feed the p icu a y c nvenient printin mechanism may tickets preferably in a strip along a straight-line be provided, having means to facilitate the adpath to a severing mechanism. From this lus nt Of the imprfissihg elements 50 that the mechanism the severed ticket may be fed transindicia being printed 1 1 the tickets can be versely to one printing portion; then fed transl'eadily changed- Thus y Present invention versely, preferably back to a position in line with l adds to the utility of machines of this character, the path of movement, of the ticket strip, to 25 especially when small .lots of tickets are to be Second printing position; then transversfly} t h In many respects the Printing mechathird printing position substantially in linewith l y be of the type-disclosed in my amend its first printing position; then transversely; to a' mg epphcatioil serial 95,116, filed October fourth printing position substantially in line 25, 1933, such a mechanism providing aseries of with the second printing position From t printing wheels and a corresponding series of point the feeding mechanism may direct the indicating wheels, a suitable carriage being proticket to the attaching Station The attahing vided to permit the ready adjustment of any mechanism may be of the general type disclosed selected lndlcatlng wheel and the simultaneous in my above identifled application serial No.

corresponding adjustment of the printing wheel. Thus ready movement of the selected impressing ifiig sg iggg gg iggg gf 21 3 .5 {S g the elementsto printing position may be effected without nec s it ti rem 1 One important feature of the present machlne g ova of the prmtmg relates to the arrangement of control means head from the machine or an o erations that l 0 are likely to soil the hands of tl l e o perator of the effectlve to permit a Single prmtmfg of each of 40 machine. the two lines of indicia upon a tlcket or the The present mvenng particularl permits the duplicate printing of the two lines, and separate employment of printing mech ni of t charcontrol means to control the feeding of the tlckets acter to print at least two lines of printing in so h either n r s rt t ts ay be d,

compactly spaced position. To this end, the as desired! 45 printing wheel assembly may include two por- A further feature of the invention relates to tions which successively; engage the ticket bethe p v o of a s w c iS pa u y ing printed, so that one portion of the mechavantageous with tickets of the type disclosed in nism is effective in printing one line upon the my United States Patent No. 1,912,268, issued ticket and the other portion of the mechanism May 30, 1933, having recesses therein to receive 50 is effective in printing an adjoining line. Furthe point of an attaching pin and guide the thermore, the invention also affords meansso same to a position wherein it is embedded bethat this printing mechanism may be effective tween the surfaces of the tickgt. In accordance in duplicating each of the lines of printing on with this invention, recesses 0 this type may be 5 the ticket when desired. 1 taken advantage of to receive a feeding pawl or finger which is effective in advancing successive tickets to the severing position.

A further advantageous aspect of the invention relates to the provision of control means which is to be employed when the machine is to be cleared of tickets of one type, this control means being arranged so that the printing mechanism a portion of the ticket-supporting means with the printing wheels. Furthermore, this control means may be arranged so that the strip carrying the pins is not advanced following the applicationof a pin to the last ticket of the series. Consequently, when the printing of a new set of tickets is initiated, a pin will not be advanced to the attaching station at a time when no ticket has arrived at that station. When the first printed ticket of the new series reaches the station, the strip has again advanced one step to bring a pin into proper position for attaching the first printed ticket of the new set. Thus jamming of unused pins in the attaching mechanism is avoided and unnecessary wasting of pins is eliminated.

Cooperating with this arrangement is the general arrangement of the mechanism so that while one ticket is passing through the printing cycle, the preceding ticket is being attached to the article of apparel or the like. Thus, ample time is provided for the operator to dispose and adjust a garment or the like in a position to have a printed ticket attached thereto while the printing operations are being performed on the succeeding ticket.

Further advantageous features of the invention relate to the provision of the cam and linkage arrangements and the structural and mechanical details which permit a simple, compact, and dependable mechanism of this character to be Provided, despite the multiplicity of movements imparted to the ticket as it passes through the machine.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, with certain of its cover plates removed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with a portion of the printing mechanism removed and certain parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section indicated by line 3--3 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 4 is an elevational detail, parts being broken away and shown in section, showing a portion of the feeding mechanism and related p Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig.7 is a section on line 1--1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a section indicated by line 8-8 of i 3; Y Y

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a corner of the machine with the printing wheel removed and showing the ticket feeding mechanism in one of its positions;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show portions of the printing mechanism and ticket feeding and supporting means in various relative positions which they occupy in succeeding portions of the cycle;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing the ticket indicated by line iil5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 17 is a detail bottom view, with parts' shown in section, of the mechanism for controlling the number of printing operations;

Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the pinning mechanism, parts being broken away and shown in section;

' Fig. 19 is a similar view showing certain of the parts in their operative positions;

Fig. 20 is a section on line 20-20 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 21 is a rear view of the attaching mechanism with parts shown in section;

Fig. 22 is a sectional detail showing the arrangement of the feed finger and related parts; and

Fig. 23 is a detail view showing the feeding pawl arranged to feed short tickets.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a machine exemplifying the principles of this invention, the numeral I designates a frame having a suitable base 2 with an upright skeletonized wall portion 3 adjoining the front of the machine. The frame also includes a table-like upper plate 4 having certain parts cut away for purposes which will be described. In practice the machine is provided with a removable rear wall portion 5, and certain detachable covering plates (not shown) which may be disposed between the base 2 and the table portion 4.

A machine of this character is provided with a driving motor H! which may be constantly operating when the machine is in use. Worm gearing, driven by the motor, may be effective through a one-revolution clutch mechanism I! in drivin the main shaft l8. The worm gearing is disposed in a casing l5 which also aids in supporting table 4. The clutch mechanism I1 is similar to that disclosed and described in my copending application Serial No. 565,466 and includes a pawl l9 which may be effective in causing the notched wheel 20 to drive the disk 2| on the end of shaft l8 whenever control block 22 is moved rearwardly out of the path of. the pawl. For this purpose a plate 23, located at the front of the machine and connected to the control block 22 by a slidable rod 24, may be pressed inwardly to move the block momentarily out of the path of the pawl. Thereupon the member 23 may be released by the operator so that block 22 returns to its normal position and is efiective in stopping the pawl I9 and disengaging the latter from the wheel 20 at the conclusion of one revolution of the shaft. The details of such a clutch mechanism are fully disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 565,466.

The shaft i3 is provided with a cam disk 30 disposed in front of the housing for the worm gear assembly. Referring to Figs. 6 and '7, it is evident that the disk 30 is of irregular contour and that its periphery engages a follower 31 on the end of an arm 32 pivoted to a bracket that is fixed on the base 2 of the machine. A tension spring 33 normally tends to pull the arm 32 and follower 3| upwardly, thus holding the latter in yieldable engagement with the edge of the cam disk. The arm 32 is part of a bell crank assembly that includes the upwardly-extending arm 35 which is connected by a short link 36 to ears 38 depending from a block 39 which is fixed on a rod greener at that is -slidable m a housing-3d fixed to the 1 table portion 4 of the frame; see Fig. 6.

As shown in Figs. '2 and 6; an extension 4d of the block 419 projects between two pamllel guide'bars 42 and '43 at one side-of housing 36 and carries a bracket pi'votally supporting feeding pawl it. A coil torsion spring ib normally urges the front end of the pawl downwardly, this portionof the pawl being provided with a pointed i feed finger or prong dd; As shown in Figs. 4 Y and 23, the pawl is provided with a pair of notch es which permit its adjustment relativeto the stud it so that theprong d9 may be disposed nearer the front of the machine, 1. e.,farther away from the stud, when a long ticket is to be.

fed, or may be disposed closer to a short ticket is to be feel.

The tickets may conveniently" be received from a strip S which is arranged to provides. coil in a magazine 5t (Fig. i) at the top of the machine in the manner alreadydescribed in my copending application Serial No: 565,466. From the coil, the strip S extends between the inner and outer sheet metal guide ribbons 52 and 53 to a position above the table G, the metal ribbon or strip 52 extending to a position beside the housing M (Fig. 2). Thus when'the p ong 39 moves toward the rear of the machine, it engages the front edge of the strip with a cam-like action and moves out of engagement with the ticket strip. When the prong moves toward the front of the machine, it slides over the strip 52 until it reaches the edge of the latter, whereupon the spring dd presses the pawl downwardly to engage the ticket which projects beyond the end of the metal strip.

Preferably a machine of this type may employ the stud when tickets T of the character disclosed in my United States Patent No. 1,912,268. which, as shown in which a link flll-is'articulated. The upper end' Fig. 15, may be formed of two laminae as by folding the intermediate portion of a sheet back upon itself and securing the folded portions together, one of the sheet portions having an opening to provide a recess R in the ticket. The feeding prong dd may engage these recesses insuccessive ticket sections and may move the same forwardly in response to the forward movementsimparted to the member 39 and the rod 3! by the bell crank 32-45. v

A guide track 68 (Figs. 2 and "1) is provide with a cross member 56 which extends over the member 52 to hold the latter in position above the table t. This track comprises a lower plate upon which thetickets or ticket strip may slide and side members 6! and 62 which have small rabbets therein to receive the edges ofthe-ticket. A spring of resilient sheet metal, designated by numeral 65, is secured to the front end of track member 62 and is arranged so that its forward extremity niay press downwardly on the ticket strip adjoining a. cutter ID, the latter being arranged to cooperate with "a slot between the front of the table 4 and the adjoining edge of the platen plate 9I to afford a shearing action. A cam 15 is'fixed to the main shaft I8 adjoining the cutter. being provided with cam portions upon each of its faces.- Referring to Fig. 3, it is evident that the cam member I5 is provided with an inner cam groove 16 in which a follower roller 11 is received. This roller is mounted on a swinging bracket 18,. to the intermediate part of of the link 80 is plvotally connected to a. block 82 (Figs. 1 and 2) 'whichispivoted on a fixed bracket 83 secured to the corner of table portion 4 of the machine. A cutting plate 85 is secured to the block 82 and provides an inwardly extending blade portion Ill which registers with the slot provided between the front edge of the table t and the platen plate 9i. is rotated',.it is'eifective through the cam groove 16, follower TLmembers Iii and 80 in causing the cutting blade I0 to move downwardly into the slot, thus to sever a ticket T from the strip S.

After a ticket has thus been severed, it is disposed beyond the end of the track 59) and is located in a track St) on the plate hi, this track 9f! being provided with grooved portions which may be aligned with the guide rails iii and '62 of the track 60 (Fig. 2). Disposed over the rear part of the track 9b is a small guide member tit which prevents the ticket from bulging upwardly and holds it in engagement with the bottom of the track.

The platen plate ti is-transversely reciprocated by a swinging bracket assembly iilll (Figs. 3 and 6), which is pivotally mounted on the lower part of the frame. The assembly Illil comprises an inwardly extending arm IUI, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8, and having a follower roll "it engaging the cam groove IM upon the back of the cam member iii, this cam groove also being shown in dottediines in Fig. 3.

A suitable supporting block tilt is arranged to provide a guide for the platen plate iii (Fig. i) so that the latter may have a transverse movement imparted thereto by the cam groove ld t. The front face of cam member i5 is provided with an outer cam groove Mil (Fig. 3) which determines the up-and-down movement of the platen plate St. For this purpose the plate assembly is provided with a follower roll iii engageable in the groove Md. This groove Mil is provided with inner and outer portions itli and Mill, as particularly shown in 'Fig. 8. The inner portion of the groove provides four throws so that fourup-and-down movements of the platen plate may resultfrom one revolution of the main shaft when the follower I is in this part of the groove. The outer part Hil of the groove has two throws so that only two up-and-down movements of the platen plate occur when the roller is engaging this outer part of the groove.v

To permit ready movement of the follower from one to the other of these groove portions. it-is disposed on the end of a slidable cylindrical support I48 carried by member HE! and having a depending stud I49 engaging the slotted end of an arm I56 which has a pivotal connection I 5! with the block IIO (Fig. 1'7). The opposite end of arm I50 is also slotted and receives the downbent end I56 of a control rod 51 that is con- Thus as the cam It.

nected to a control knob I (Fig. 2) projecting parts ordinarily stop, as determined by the onet revolution clutch mechanism, the follower MI may move from one portion of the cam groove to the other, since in this position these portions have similar cross sections and in effect form Y one deep groove. A spring-pressed ball I53 may normally engage one of two recesses, I54 in the upper surface of arm I50,"thus tending to hold the arm, the rod I51 and knob I60 in one or the other or the two selected positions so that the the platen plate (Fig. 22).

follower l4l is definitely located either in the cam groove portion 8' or I48".

The front end of rod 31 is provided with a stirrup portion 5 (Fig. 2) having a transverse slot H8 receiving a pin ll'i upon the swinging feed finger H8 which is pivotally connected to an arm H9 extending from the right-hand end of the platen plate 8|. The finger H8 has a forwardly curved or inclined end portion I28 which slides over plate 9|, and it has a part engaging an arcuate guide groove I21 formed in a part of The finger 8 has a composite movement which results from the reciprocatory movement of the rod 31 and stirrup H5 and from the transverse reciprocating movement of the platen plate 9i. Thus after a ticket has been severed, the member 8, as will be more fully explained, may be effective in advancing the ticket to successive printing positions on the platen plate as the latter is reciprocating transversely and may finally advance a ticket from the last printing position to the attaching station.

The platen plate 9| is provided with similar inset inking pads I18 which are disposed on opposite sides of the track assembly 88. Above this portion of the platen plate is the printing wheel This assembly has a pivotal connection 2M (Fig. 3) with a bracket 202 secured to the frame of the machine. A suitable ear 283 (Fig. 1) projects from the opposite end of the assembly 288 to engage a fixed portion of the machine, normally being held by a spring 284 and retaining nut 285 in engagement with a cam plate 206. Thus the ear engages the cam plate to limit the downward movement of the free end of the assembly 288 so that the latter will not rest upon the platen plate when the latter is in its normal position, i. e., when the track portions 88 and 98 are coplanar. When the printing wheel assembly occupies this position, it has a slight inclination upwardly toward the left side of the machine, as seen, for example, in Figs. 3 and 10.

The printing wheel assembly itself may be of the type disclosed and claimed in my United States Patent No. 1,980,576, issued November 13, 1934, and provided with certain improvements disclosed in my 'copending application Serial No. 695,116, filed October 25, 1933. Since the details of an assembly of this character are fully described in the above-identified patent and application} which are [included herein by reference, the description of these details will not be repeated herein.

However, for purposes of understanding the present invention, it may be pointed out that the assembly includes an outer, generally cylindrical casing 2H1 having an opening 2 li therein with a' transparent closure 2I2 of cellulosic material (Fig. 16) Disposed within this part of the casing are two sets of indicating wheels 2 and 2l5 (Fig. 3). The end of the assembly above the inking pads is provided with corresponding sets of printing wheels 224 and 225. The corresponding printing wheels and indicating wheels may be interconnected by mechanism of the character fully disclosed in the above-identified application and patent, so that, when a selected indicating wheel is moved into a position wherein a desired character registers with the upper end of a pointer bar 226. (Fig. 16), the corresponding character upon the corresponding printing wheel is disposed in a printing position, i. e., in the lowermost position upon the wheel. The assembly is provided with a sliding carriage 221 having a control knob 228 which is operatively connectable with the wheel registering with the end of the pointer so that that wheel may be rotated of the carriage are provided at the left-hand end of the assembly 288. These parts are similar to those shown in my prior application Serial No. 695,116 and include a lower finger lever 238 whichmay be actuated to control ratchet mechanism effecting a step-like movement of the carriage to bring the wheels successively into operative connection with the control member 228, while the upper finger lever 23f, when depressed, releases the ratchet mechanism to permit the free sliding movement of the carriage when it is desired to move the same readily to engage a wheel remote from the previously engaged wheel so that the newly engaged wheel may be adju ted.

It is evident that each time that the platen plate moves upwardly, it may press a ticket against one or the other of the printing portions of the assembly 288 which are provided respectively by the wheels 224 or 225. Thus when the platen plate is in a position so that the track portions 88 and 98 are in alignment, 1. e., the ticket to be printed is an alignment with the ticket strip, the ticket may move upwardly to engage the wheels 224, as illustrated, for example, in

Fig. 12. If the platen plate 9| has reciprocated to the other end of its path, it may move upshaft I8, the ticket may first engage the wheels 225. The platen plate may then be lowered and the finger H8 advances the ticket slightly so that the ticket is positioned to permit the printing of a succeeding line of indicia by the wheels 224. The platen may then return to the right-hand end of its path, the finger H8 again slightly advancing the ticket so that the first line of printing is duplicated by engagement of the ticket with wheels 225. Thereafter the platen plate may return to its original position, while the finger I I8 again slightly advances the ticket so that the sec- 0nd line of printing may be duplicated during the fourth printing operation when the ticket again engages the wheels 224. Thereafter the platen plate remains in its normal position, while the finger I I8 advances to the position shown in Fig.9 to feed the ticket to the attaching station.

In general the attaching mechanism may be similar to that disclosed in my prior above-identified application Serial No. 565,466. In the manner more fully disclosed in that application, the pins are mounted on a paper strip M which provides a coil received in the right-hand side of magazine 50 and has a run extending downwardly in the curved channel-like chute 308 shown in Fig. 1. The strip M preferably is weakened along a. central longitudinal line and thus is substantially folded as it passes between the converging edges of guiding means 386 (Fig. 19). From the attaching station where successive pins are removed from the strip, the folded strip extends to the bite of rollers 30'! and 388, one of which is provided with a notched wheel 309 to beactuated by the pin-inserting mechanism so that each time that a pin is inserted the strip is drawn forward one' step corresponding to the spacing between successive pins.

The severed and printed ticket as it moves forwardly out of the track 90 passes into a guide 3| I (Fig. 2)' and moves to a position beneath a downwardly extending beak 3l2 and above the point of an upwardly curved cu'sp 303, the inner longitudinal edge of the ticket being yieldably urged against a fixed shoulder 3l6 by a spring-pressed member 3 [4 which engages its opposite longitudinal edge. Below the member 3 and the beak 3l2 is an upwardly movable anvil 320 having a spring-pressed plunger 32! and which is grooved to guide a pin as it is being inserted. in material disposed on the anvil.

The main shaft I8 is provided with a cam 325 which has grooves upon its front and rear faces, the rear groove engaging a follower upon a bell crank 326 providing an upwardly extending arm 330 which has a pin 321 extending through a ver tical slot 328 in a plunger rod 329 (Figs. 16 and 18). A wire plunger 340 extendsfrom this rod and is movable to engage the head of a pin which is positioned in alignment therewith. v

The front of cam 325 is provided with a cam groove engaging a follower 332 (Fig. 16) on the end of an arm 333 which is pivoted at 339 to a fixed bracket. The opposite end of the arm 333 is connected by a coiled tension spring 34! to the end of an arm 343, the intermediate part of which is pivoted to the arm 333 between the follower through which the pin 321 extends. Held against the back of this wall of the assembly by an angle 35!! and a sliding member 365 is a sliding bar 355 which is also provided with a slot 362 through which the pin 321 extends, the slot 362 being, however, of less length than the throw of pin 321 so that as the 'pin approaches the right-hand end of its path, as viewed in Fig. 20, the bar 355 also is moved slightly toward the right, the tension spring 358 normally holding the bar out of this position. At the left-hand end of the bar 355 a slot 360 is provided to receive a pin 36! secured to the beak 3l2. A suitable spring-controlled pawl 364 is connected to the end of bar a fixed part of the. machine. The bar 365 is provided \m'th a slot 361 to accommodate the pin 321. This slot, however, is dimensioned so that each time the pin approaches the end of its path, it engages the end of the slot and moves the bar 365 to the right. as viewed in Fig. 20. When the actuator pin 321 moves toward the left as viewed in Fig. 20, the spring 366 moves bar 365 toward the left, the latter being effective through conto the position shown in Fig. 19. When the pin 321 approaches the right-hand end of its path, it moves the bar 365 in the same direction, thus being effective to swing the beak to its retracted position.

The normal operation of the attaching mechanism results from the oscillating movement of the pin 321 and the vertical movement of the anvil 320 to the attaching station. Thus during each cycle of the machine the .pin 321 moves toward the attaching station, while the anvil 320 also moves toward the station. As the movement of the pin is started, the bars 355. and 365 also move in the same direction, the latter being cfvnection 36l in swinging the beak 312 downwardly fective in causing the point of beak3l2 to project into the recess R of the ticket to spread the plies of the ticket.

In the meantime the anvil 320 has moved upwardly to bend the ticket to the shape shown in Fig. 19, whereupon the rod 340 engages the head of a pin so that its point passes through the bent ticket and below the lower surface thereof to pass into the sheet article A or the like, then again .passing through the article and through the ticket, its point being then guided by the beak into the space between the plies of the ticket so that the point becomes embedded within the ticket.

As the pin 321 starts to move away from the attaching station, the anvil 320 moves downwardly and as the pin 321 approaches the end of its path,

it engages the bar 365 to cause the retraction of beak 3l2, whereupon the ticket is released to be withdrawn with the sheet article A. During this same part of the. cycle, the pin 321 is also effective in moving the bar 355 toward the ratchet wheel 309, the pawl 364 thereupon being effective in moving the corresponding roller 308 one step,

.-so that the strip M is drawn forward to bring another pin into alignment with the plunger 340.

Means are provided so that the printing mechanism may temporarily be rendered ineffective and so that the means for driving the rollers 301 and 308 may be temporarily inter-' rupted when it is desired to stop printing one lot of tickets and start printing another lot. The cam plate 206 is effective for this purpose, this plate being pivotally mounted on a vertical stud 201 upon which the nut 205 is screwed. Member 206 is provided with recesses 2l3 in which camlike protuberances 208 on the car 203 of the printing assembly 200 are normally received, the spring 204 tending to hold these parts in engagement.

In its normal position the cam plate 206 does not affect the operation of the machine. However, it may be swung to the position indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 2 and shown in Fig. 20 toblock the path of the bar 355. When the plate is swung to this position, it also lifts the printing end of the printing assembly 200 slightly above the normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the pads I10 do not engage the printing wheels when the assembly is tilted upwardly to this position.

Extending rearwardly from the casing of the assembly 200 is an arm 216 which provides a horizontal flange 2l1 engageable with a pin 2l8 projecting from the side of feed pawl 46. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, when the cam plate 206 is in a. position to block the sliding rod 355. the flange 2" is effective in holding the pawl 46 in aposition so that the prong 49 does not engage a recess in the ticket strip. Accordingly feeding of the tickets in this portion of the machine is interrupted, the engagement of a ticket with the printing wheels or engagement of the platen with the same is also prevented, and the strip M is not being withdrawn by the rollers 301 and 308. However, the feed finger H8 can continue its movement so that a printed ticket may be advanced to the attaching station and the pin 32! is still effective in actuating the plunger rod 329 and the plunger 340 so that a pin, which has already moved into a position in alignment with the plunger, may be forced into the last ticket of the series.

Thereuponthe printing mechanism may be adjusted to print a new lot of tickets and the cam plate 20E'be returned to its normal position. This permits the pawl 46 to resume its normal position and the printing assembly to return to its normal position. Accordingly the pawl may be effective in feeding a ticket to the cutter I0 and the printing mechanism may then print the ticket. At this time, however, there is no ticket in the vicinity of the attaching station; the plunger 340, however, is reciprocated, but it does not engage a pin, since the strip M was not advanced during the preceding cycle, and there is no liability of a free pin becoming jammed in the mechanism and the wasting of a pin is avoided. As this first cycle of the new series ends, however, the rollers .301 and 308 are again actuated to draw the pin strip M forwardly one step, so that, at the end of the first cycle, another pin is disposed in proper position to be pushed by the plunger 340 during the second cycle when the first printed ticket of the new series reaches the attaching station.

When a machine of this character is being used, the motor I0 may be constantly operating so that the notched wheel 20 is constantly being driven. The operator of the'machine may dispose an article such as a garment over the upper end of anvil 320 and may simultaneously push the control plate 23 inwardly for a moment. This is effective in moving the control block 22 out of engagement with the pawl I9 so that the latter engages notched wheel 20, i. e., clutch I1 is engaged, and the disk 2I and main shaft I8 start rotating. As soon as the plate 23 is released, the block 22 moves back into the path of the pawl so that the main shaft is stopped as soon as one revolution is completed. In other, words, the momentary pressure which pushes the plate. 23 rearwardly causes the main shaft to rotate through one revolution.

When the cycle of operations starts, the prong 43 of pawl 46 may be disposed slightly behind a recess R in one of the ticket sections, for example, in the position shown in Fig. 2. As the cycle starts, the cam disk 30 is positioned to actuate the follower 3| which is operative through the arms 32 and 35 in causing the rod 31 to move forwardly, thus moving the pawl 46 forwardly, the end of this pawl being pressed downwardly by the torsion spring 45. The prong 49 accordingly engages the recess R in the ticket section which adjoins the end of the metal ribbon 53.

As the forward movement of the bar continues, a ticket section which is directly ahead of the section being engaged by prong 43 passes beneath the cutter III. The cam disk 30 is shaped so that the rod 31 and pawl 46 hesitate at the forward ends of their paths while the cutter I0 starts severing the first ticket section from the strip.

As previously described, the cutter is actuated by the inner cam groove at the front of cam I5, which is effective through swinging bracket I8 and link 80 in swinging the cutter downwardly into the slot between the front of table 4 and the platen 3I, the latter remaining stationary during this cutting operation.

As thesevering movement of the cutter I0 is continued, the pawl 46 starts moving rearwardly and this vmovement is continued as the platen plate 9| starts to move transversely out of its normal position, i. e., out of the position wherein the tracks 60 and 90 are in alignment, thus moving the severed ticket beneath wheels 225. This transverse movement of the platen plate is determined by the cam groove I04 at the back of cam I5, this cam groove being effective through arms IM and I00 in causing the sliding movement of the platen plate on the guide block 0; see Figs. 10, 11 and 12. At the end of its transverse path the platen plate'may be swung upwardly by one of the throws on cam groove I40, which acts through follower MI and member H0 in lifting the platen plate so that the ticket is pressed upwardly into engagement with the printing wheels 225, i. e., the right-hand set of printing wheels as shown in Fig. 10.

It is. evident that the inclinedposition of the I printing assembly permits the movement of the ticket in a direction which is substantially normal to the planes of the surfaces of the printing elements on the wheels, as shown in Fig. 10. As this first printing operationoccurs, the pad I10 at the outer end of the plate-1 block engages the printing wheels 224 to ink the same.

Following this first printing operation, the platen moves downwardly and then transversely as determined by the cam grooves I40 and I04, respectively, so that it returns to its original position. During this transverse movement, the feed finger II8, which is actuated by rod 31, moves forwardly so that the ticket which is being printed is advanced for a distance corresponding to the spacing of the lines of printing. When the platen reaches its normal position, the cam groove I40 may again cause the platen to move upwardly so that the ticket engages the printing wheels 224, as shown in Fig. 12, thus performing the second printing operation. While this is being done, the wheels 225 are being inked by the pad I I10 at the right of the guide track 90.

Following this, the platen 9| may again move transversely while the feeding finger 2I8 again advances the ticket slightly so that a blank portion thereof may be positioned for the printing of another line of indicia, which will duplicate the first line. Thereupon the platen may again be swung upwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 10, wherein the printing wheels 225 are effective in making another impression and the wheels 224 are again being inked.

After the platen moves downwardly following this operation, it is again moved transversely and the feed finger 2I8 again advances the ticket slightly, whereupon the platen, upon reaching its normal position, may again move upwardly so that the fourth printing operation is effected by engaging the ticket with the printing wheels 224-, and the wheels 225 are simultaneously inked by the pad at the right of the guide track.

When the ticket has moved this far, the onerevolution clutch mechanism I! normally disengages, leaving the printed ticket in the track 90. When the plate 23 is again actuated, the advance movement of rod 31, which causes the pawl 46 to move a ticket section forwardly to the cutter, also causes a very substantial forward movement of the feed finger H8 to feed the ticket to the attaching station (Fig. 9). The feed finger I I8 is retracted'while the next ticket section is being severed and while the first printing operation occurs. so that the finger is positioned to engage the rear end of the ticket which has just received the first impression as the platen returns to its normal position following the first printing operation.

Fig. 13 particularly illustrates the path and Various positions of a ticket as it passes through the printing cycle in the manner just described, the heavy arrows indicating the'paths of the center of the ticket, and various dotted line positions of the feed finger -I [8 being shownwhen this finger is at the beginningof one of its advance movements. While in Fig. 13 the ticket path is illustrated as including straight-line, diagonal portions, it is evident that in practice the ticket may move slightly in a transverse direction before the cam controlling feed finger ll8 actuates the latter to cause an advance movement. It is evident that at each of the positions of the ticket illustrated in Fig. 13, except'the view shown in full lines at the upper left-hand portion of that figure, the ticket is in a printing position. In other words, at the end of each transverse path the ticket is moved upwardly and printed.

While one ticket is being subjected to successive printing operations in the manner already described, the preceding ticket, which has been fed to the attaching station by the substantial forward movement'of the feed finger, receives the fastening pin in the manner described in connection with the operation of the pinning mechanism. When the anvil 320 moves downwardly while the printing portion of the cyclefor the succeeding ticket is taking place, the garment or the like with the ticket pinned thereto may be removed from the-machine.

When it is desired to have the machine print only twice, the control knob I60 is moved to its rearmost position so that the member [56 is swung to pull the cam follower I out of the portion 0a of the cam groove I40 (Fig. 8) into the portion I401) which has only two throws. When the parts are in this position and the plate 23 is pushed inwardly to cause engagement of the clutch H, the parts may follow the same general cycle as has been described, with the exception of the fact that the platen plate Si is not moved upwardly following .two of its transverse movements. I Thus, for example, the plate may not move upwardly the first time the ticket is .disposed underthe printing wheels 225 or the first time that the ticket has returned to a position under the printing wheels 221.

When the ticket is again returned to a position under the wheels 225, the first printing operation may be effected at a portion of the cycle corresponding to the third printing operation previously described. When the ticket isagain returned to a position in alignment with the track 60, a second printing operation may be performed during the part of the cycle corresponding to the fourth operation previously described.

As previously explained, when it is desired to start printing different indicia, special means is prepared to take care of the last ticket of the series which has been printed. This last printed ticket is disposed on the track at the end'of the cycle.- Before the final cycle, the cam plate 206 is then swung to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that the feeding pawl 46 is rendered inoperative, the printing assembly 200 is disposed in a position where it is out of the path of the platen, and the rollers 30'! and 308 are not effective in drawing the strip M forwardly. The plunger 340, however, operates during the last cycle to cause a pin to engage the last printed ticket which has been advanced by the long forward movement of finger 2I8 to the attaching station.

Following this operation, the relative position of the printing wheels may be adjusted by the knob 228 until the desired combination of indicia is aligned with the end of pointer 226, and the cam plate 206 may be returned to normal position. 'Thereupon another cycle may be started by pressing the plate 23 inwardly. During this first cycle of the new series, there is no ticket in the attaching station and there is no reason for disposing an article in a position to receive a tag. The foremost ticket section, however, is severed and moved to printing position and printed during this cycle, while the strip M is again drawn forwardly to bring another pin into alignment with the plunger 340 so that when the second cycle is to be effected, a garment or the like may be disposed over the anvil 320 as the plate 23 is pressed inwardly and the first printed ticket of the new series may be advanced to the attaching station by the long forward movement of finger I I8. The operation of the machine during this second cycle may thus proceed in the normal manner.

It is evident that this invention permits the employment of a printing wheel assembly having two sets of printing wheels which may readily be adjusted and that the ticket is moved to a plurality of printing positions to engage these two sets of wheels, although the ticket itself may be small in size and the printing assembly may be relatively bulky. Furthermore, this arrangement permits the duplicate printing by each of the sets of wheels. During the printing portion of the cycle there is a relative transverse movement between the printing mechanism and the ticket between successive impressions. Thus the ticket in general may be regarded as following a zigzag path. It is furthermore evident .hat the mechanism may be readily adjusted to print only twice, i. e., to print two lines without duplication, and that the mechanism may feed and print short tickets. Furthermore, the machine operates so that ample time is afforded: fo" the operator to locate an article in proper position for the attachment of the ticketand topermit the attachment of the ticket to the article while the succeeding ticket is subjected to the printing operation. In fact, the pinning .cperation may be completed well before the end of the cycle so that ample time is given the operator to place a new article over the anvil by the time the cycle has finished. Accordingly the cycles may be caused to occur in rapid succession. With such an arrangement, it, is desirable to have special means to take care of the last ticket of a lot having one type of indicia thereon, and for this purpose the cam plate 206 is effective to prevent the engagement of the printing wheels' and platen without a ticket thereon, while the ,wasting and possible jamming of an unused pin is avoided and the feeding of the ticket strip is i temporarily interrupted.

The inking of the printing elements on one set' of wheels obviously is effected while the other -7" set of wheels is performing an inking operation so that no extra movements or mechanism is required to ink the printing elements. It is evident that, if desired, the platens I10 may be provided with different colors of ink so that one line of printing may be in one color and the next line have a different or contrasting color. The pivoted arrangement of the printing assembly permits it to be swung upwardly when thenut 205 is removed, thus facilitating cleaning of the printing wheels and access to the platen plate for cleaning or the like.

It is furthermore evident that the wheels 225 may be adjusted so that blank portions of the same are disposed over. the platen so that these wheels will not be eifective'in printing. When the wheels are set in this manner, the ticket is advanced under wheels 224, being printed either once or twice by the same, depending upon the adjustment of the handle I60, and thereafter being advanced to the attaching station. Accordingly under these conditions the ticket may be fed along the track 60 onto the part of the platen which is normally aligned with the track, being printed due to the upward movement of the platen, and then after said part of the platen has returned to its normal position being ad vanced to the attaching station, which is substantially in alignment with the track and said part of the platen.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising ticket feeding means and including a platen, printing means including two sets of adjustable printing wheels arranged so that the wheels of one set are parallel to but out of the planes of the wheels of the other set, and operating mechanism for said feeding means arranged to cause the latter to direct a ticket into engagement with one of said sets of wheels and then move the ticket along a generally transverse path and into engagement with the other set of wheels so that the two sets of wheels print adjoining portions of the ticket.

2. A machine of the class described comprising ticket feeding means and including a platen, printing means including two sets of adjustable printing wheels arranged so that the wheels of the first set are parallel to but out of the planes of the wheels of the second set, and operating mechanism for said feeding means to cause the latter to direct a ticket into engagement with the first set of wheels, to cause the feeding means then to direct the ticket along a generally transverse path into juxtaposition to the second set of wheels while imparting a component of movement to the ticket parallel to its first path, and thereupon to cause said means to move the ticket into engagement with said second set of wheels, whereby the two sets of wheels respectively print successive lines upon the ticket.

3. A machine of the class described comprising ticket feeding means including a movable platen assembly having a ticket supporting portion, operating mechanism for said feeding means, printing means including two sets of printing wheels arranged side by side, said platen assembly being movable toward one of said sets of wheels so that a line is printed on a ticket by said wheels, the assembly then being movable away from said set of wheels along a transverse path toward the other set of wheels while the feeding means also operates to impart a component of movement to advance the ticket along a path at right angles to said transverse path, the platen assembly thereafter moving toward said other set of wheels to cause a second line to be printed on the ticket.

4. A machine of the class described comprising ticket feeding means including a movable platen assembly having a ticket supporting portion, operating mechanism for said feeding means, printing means including two sets of printing wheels arranged side by side, said platen assembly being movable toward one of said sets of wheels so that a line is printed on a ticket by said wheels, the assembly then being movable away from said set of wheels and along a transverse path toward the other set of wheels while the feeding means also operates to impart a component of movement to advance the ticket along a path at right angles to said transverse path, the platen assembly thereafter moving toward said other set of wheels to cause a second line to be printed on the ticket, said assembly having inking pads at each side of its ticket supporting portion so that one pad is effective to ink one set of wheels while the assembly moves upwardly to cause printing by the other set of wheels.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a printing means including two printing portions arranged side by side, a platen having a part to support a sheet article and having two inking pads arranged respectively at opposite sides of said part, and means to cause movement of said platen toward the printing portions and between said movements to cause transverse movementsof the platen so that each printing portion may be inked by one pad while the article is being printed by the other printing portion.

6. A machine of the class described comprising ticket feeding means, printing means having two printing portions, said feeding means being operative to move a ticket along a generally zigzag path between said printing portions, so that the ticket is first juxtaposed to one printing portion and then the other printing portion, said means moving the ticket into engagement with said portions when the ticket is moved into juxtaposition thereto, whereby the printing portions may alternately print the ticket, and operating mechanism to cause the operation of the ticket feeding means.

'7. A machine of the class described comprising ticket feeding means, printing means including a first and a second printing portion in side-by-side relation, said feeding means being operative to move a ticket into engagement with said first portion and then to direct the ticket transversely and into engagement with said second portion, the feeding means thereafter being operative to direct the ticket transversely and again into engagement with said first portion, whereby the first portion may print the ticket twice and the second portion may at least print the ticket once, and operating mechanism to cause the operation of the ticket feeding means.

8. A machine of the class described comprising ticket feeding means, printing means including a first and a second printing portion in side-byside relation, said feeding means being operative to move a ticket into engagement with said first portion and then to direct the ticket transversely and into engagement with said second portion, the feedingmeans thereafter being operative to direct the ticket transversely and again into en- 

